Here’s the sketch I finished yesterday at the cafe.
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I concentrated on my balance today at the gym, slowing down the speed a bit and not adding incline, and just concentrated on my walking as a normal human would. :0). (I still tend to ‘list’ to the left or right from time to time as I walk, even though my balance has improved a lot since I left the hospital. ) I use my treadmill time as my physical therapy session each morning, trying to improve my balance, stamina, and concentration.
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I’m going to try to watch a movie on YouTube today. I saw mention of the movie in a music video and immediately wanted to see it. I’m hoping that the channel will allow it. I haven’t taken the time to watch a movie in at least a couple of months now, if not longer, and I would really enjoy it. Fingers crossed.
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I’m looking forward to spending time at the cafe this afternoon. I’m hoping to finish details on the sketch I drew yesterday and base painted. There are a bunch of things rattling around in my brain that I want to try. Since I gave myself permission to leave my comfort zone, I feel like I’m learning a lot and expanding my capabilities some. It’s challenging and fun.
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I’m having a great time finding wonderfully talented people to share with you. It seems that there are more of them right now than usual, and I feel as though I hit a treasure trove. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
John Rinaldo – @jrinaldo – “The Positive Pen” on Substack.
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Yesterday I was emotionally exhausted when we got home from the hospital visit. I let go and took a nap. I felt better when I woke up, and headed for the cafe.
I saw Heidi, my ‘nomad’ (self-called) friend I met the other day and visited with. I had made a thank you card with my email and blog addresses on the back, and put that and a pair of my wood-burned earrings in a baggie, just in case we ran across each other again. It was as delightful as the last time. She asked me about how to find my blog, so I gave her the card and the earrings. She seemed to like both a lot. She and her partner are here through August, so we might run into each other again. 😁
I’m working on a sketch of a whole wall full of bottles of coffee beans – totally out of my comfort zone again, but it really caught my eye, so I’m trying. I’ll work on it again today.
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I’ve been trying to speed up my walking on the treadmill and also increase the incline to work myself harder and burn more calories. I’ve been doing that for about a week now. Brian has added some work on equipment to strengthen his back. Tomorrow I’m going to slow back down, take away the incline, and again focus on my balance, since I find myself either resting my wrists on the handlebars or actually holding on with this change. My balance is super important. I really don’t want to fall, even though I think I’m paying attention…
Since I wrote last, we visited Harvey at the nursing home, and then saw him again this morning at the hospital at his routine doctor visit. Yesterday he was still coughing and on oxygen and barely said a word to us. Suddenly he was staring at his Happy Wall. Brian asked him if he was thinking about the artwork I had made for him. He nodded and said, “We have to take it down.” On further questioning, we found out he was thinking about moving to Tate (the place in Georgia we went to a hundred years or so ago) and didn’t want to leave without the paintings. Then he said, “I want you to paint them again, on 4’x8′ sheets so we can hang them on the walls.”
In the hospital today, he was still feeling pretty bad and just looked at us, not saying anything. When the doctor came in, though, he seemed to rally. The doctor said, “How do you feel?” Harvey clearly said, “Crappy,” making the doctor laugh. Then as the doctor examined him, Harvey said, “Your hands are cold. You’ve been working with too many dead people.” We got the paperwork we need in order to renew Harvey’s medical visa. It was 12:30 by the time we got home. I was was exhausted and took a nap.
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My chameleon jigsaw puzzle is coming along very slowly. This one is odd because I seem to be working it from the inside out. I can’t make any progress on adding to the border, but I’ve found areas that are coming together.
This gives you an idea. I did find part of his mouth and eye, but otherwise, it’s all unnconnected ‘flowers’. I THINK I found his elbow…
Puzzle
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I’m going to get my act together and head over to the cafe very soon. Here is the last painted sketch –
These are called, “elephant pants.” I see lots, and lots, and LOTS of tourists wearing them. They seem to be a HAVE TO purchase if you’re visiting Chiang Mai. It’s unfortunate because they look truly awful. I haven’t seen anyone who looks good in a pair. The design goes all the way across the front making the wearer look like their bodies are about 3 feet across. Men and women both wear them, too. This is a style I will firmly ignore, embracing my status as having a retirement visa here…
I am back from the cafe. I had a really nice massage this morning. I changed my clothes and we immediately left for the cafe because Khun Bpaum and her helpers were coming early and doing BOTH of our places from 11:00 – 2:00.
I had a really nice time at the cafe. I met two ladies from China. One had two children. They met here and have become friends. Both are visiting for about a month. The boy saw me drawing and wanted his mom to let him come in and see what I was doing. They all came in and were quite complimentary about my stuff. We had a fun visit.
This is a door I thought was beautiful.
And this is the second lizard that lives somewhere around the cafe.
I’m working on a bunny rabbit, and also trying to draw a pair of ‘elephant pants.’ I guess every tourist has a pair. I have yet to find someone who actually looks GOOD in a pair, but they seem to be the thing everyone should have – except me..
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I came back to my beautifully clean place. I always check the windows to make sure they got locked (the cleaners clean them inside and out every week!) One was left unlocked, so I quickly took care of that. I sat down to write blog posts and had no cursor. All the things on my desk were lined up neatly. My track pad was working fine this morning, but I checked all the connections, even rebooted, but couldn’t get one to show up. I finally texted Brian on my phone. He looked things over and then showed me that there was a minute little button on one edge of the track pad that had been moved, turning the pad off. When he pushed it the other way, a tiny green light appeared and I had a cursor again. I didn’t even know the button was there, but I know what to check for if it happens again…
It’s supposed to rain all day today, though it has stopped now. I’m going to TRY to learn to handle “The Rainy Season” better this year. Last year I agonized when we had to go out when it was raining. I would think about deferring or canceling whatever the plans were, not wanting to be out in it.
Shumee Toys
Today it was raining when I was getting ready to go to the gym. Not a deluge, but a good, steady rain. I just made sure my umbrella was at the top of my carrier, that I had my rain suit in there, just in case, wore what I now consider my ‘rain shoes,’ and went on with our trip to the gym. I have washed my small stuff out and it’s hanging on my drying rack on my balcony. If it rains straight down, there’s a chance my stuff will go ahead and dry out there. I have things as close to my wall as possible in that hope. I’ll make further decisions when it’s time for me to go to the cafe. “The Rainy Season’ here runs from June through October, with it starting to get more serious now, so I’ll have plenty of time to handle things better. I am SO pleased that this time I have brand new windows that keep the water out!!!!
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This is the only sketch I finished yesterday. It didn’t turn out the way my mind pictured it, but it was fun to try. Today I’m working on the door I started yesterday, the second lizard that I saw at the cafe a while back, and a bunny rabbit –
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Our housekeeper notified Brian this morning that she (and helpers) will clean BOTH of our places tomorrow from 11:00 until 2:00. This means that I will come home from my massage, change my clothes quickly, and we will leave right away to go to the cafe. It also means that we will be able to come back much earlier than usual, just in case we want to… :0) Today I’m changing the sheets on the bed, gathering trash, getting out fresh towels, etc., to get ready
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I hope that you are able to stay cool wherever you are. I remember summers in Arkansas clearly where the temperatures were beastly day after day, drying everything out, causing you to pop out in sweat the minute you left the house. We burned our hands on the car doors and steering wheel.
Here it is super muggy. My phone says the humidity is 84%, though the temperature itself is only in the 80’s. Feels like you’re walking through a bowl of pea soup –
I’m doing some chores around my place, and then I’m going to do yoga stretches AND water bottle exercises today, since I’m feeling energetic. 💪🏻. I’ll then switch to the fun stuff – writing posts for the blog and then researching to find more things I would like to share with you. My jigsaw puzzle is coming along, albeit very slowly. (Brian is thrilled). I’m working on finishing one sketch, plus working on another in progress before starting more. I’m practicing my guitar, lasting a BIT longer with my practices before my fingertips yell at me. Laundry is on the balcony and life is good.
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I had an interesting thing happen yesterday. I was on the elevator with an older man and his two grown sons, heading for the cafe. He suddenly asked, “How old are you?” I told him. He looked astonished, then said nice things about my back being straight and looking healthy for my age. I told him he had made my day as we left the elevator. 😸
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I’m working totally out of my comfort zone on my sketches. The first is an abstract thing with lots of color. I have no clue whether it will turn out reasonably or not, but I’m having a good time. The second is a door. Yeah, weird, right? I think this door is a real beauty, especially with the handle, so I’m trying to capture it. Really difficult. Again, I’m not sure it will turn out. I’ve started my 4th sketchbook and decided to challenge myself even more to try things I never would have considered when I first started trying to get shapes down on paper.
We went to visit Harvey this morning. Today was one of the really challenging visits, in that it wasn’t clear he recognized us or cared that we had come. He said a couple of things that made no sense. He squeezed my hand and that was it for the visit.
We have two trips to the hospital the first week in August – that means that we COULD be scheduled to see him four times next week. We’ll need to study when we need to be at the hospital and make some decisions. The only thing absolute at this point is that we’ll visit again this Saturday.
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I just came back from spending time at the cafe. My server came and got me, telling me ‘my place’ had become vacant and helping me move. I hugged her. I finished two drawings and started a third.
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I moved my laundry on and off my balcony several times today. Right now it’s ON the balcony. I’m hoping that things will be dry enough to bring them in before bed and they’ll finish drying overnight. The rainy season is a challenge, but I only actually do my undies and incidentals where I’m worried about the rain. Brian does my sheets and towels because he has washing machine (but no dryer). His balcony is large enough that unless the rain is blowing in his direction, he can get things dry even if it rains. I take the rest of my clothes to the laundry service. Laborious, but it works. :0)
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I met a man and his two sons on the elevator today. The older man (he may have even been as old as I am (imagine that!) asked me how old I was. I told him and he exclaimed that I looked to be in really good shape (my back was straight, he mentioned in particular). It made me feel good that he thought I was doing okay for an old lady…
I just got back from the cafe. I had a good time. I finished another 100-page sketchbook today. I’ll paint the last two sketches in it tomorrow and see if I can finish them to show you. I did one sketch in the new book that is totally abstract. I love the colors and I have no idea if I can do it justice, trying to capture the feel of it.
Here’s the sketch I finished today. I think I told you what a happy sight it was when we were visiting Harvey in ICU at the hospital when I passed a locker room for the staff. It was FILLED with plush toys on keychains. I hope you can get an idea of it here. Even big, brawly-looking guys have plush toys on their backpacks here. I love it!
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Yesterday I met a lady named Heidi who was here visiting. She asked to see my stuff. She sat and we had the best visit. She does collage and had some samples with her. I loved the 3-D-ness of it. She did all kinds of things career-wise and had traveled extensively. She was from the States but described herself as a ‘nomad’ now. She’ll be here for about 9 more days. I hope to see her again before she leaves.
I visited with the owner of the cafe today. She is a small, pretty, bubbly woman who is a joy to know. She was gathering the ingredients to try a new cake today. She said if it turned out well, she would bring me a piece to try. My mouth is watering already for my session there tomorrow… 😋
I did my walking at the gym this morning and then a session of yoga stretches before I went to the cafe. It feels good to be over my sore throat and feeling mostly back to normal now. I want to start trying to use the stairs this week to go UP – if only one floor of it.
We got a message from the nursing home that the new owner (an ER physician) will visit Harvey once a week to monitor his condition. That makes us feel better about the change in ownership and the many other changes he will probably make.
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Latest group of Christmas cards.
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I’m finally completely over my sore throat and accompanying weakness. I did fine at the gym on the treadmill this morning, not having to hold onto the handlebars for steadiness and not checking the time a lot. I felt stronger. Yea!
Today is water bottle exercises.
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I will write a couple more blog posts, do some prepping for the session at the cafe, and do some things around my place. I hope you have a happy day.
We went to see Harvey this morning. He nodded when he saw the Calvin & Hobbes painting, so I put it up on his wall.
He was still coughing badly and wasn’t communicating much at all. The only thing he said was he wanted a 50 caliber weapon so that he could blow up the white birds in the rice field. I know better than to go for a visit hoping or having expectations, but I slipped and brought them today. I was really down after the visit. I want to wave a magic wand and make him feel better.
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I forgot to tell you about something that keeps coming up in my thoughts. When we were in ICU at the hospital, we passed a room where the staff had lockers to keep their belongings. There were keys in the locks with all KINDS of stuffed animals attached to them. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say there were at LEAST 75 plush little critters dangling. Brian said it would be rude to take a picture, so you’ll just have to use your imagination. Maybe I can draw something that would give you an idea. I just loved it.
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I’m just back from the cafe. Today was a therapeutic session to bring me out of being down. One nice thing – the lady server was again looking out for me and came and got me when ‘my spot’ was vacated and helped me move my stuff. How do you thank someone this nice? Then a man stopped and said what I was doing was ‘beautiful,’ especially the one with the ‘eyes.’ If that doesn’t bring you out of the doldrums, nothing will. :0)
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My faith is somewhat renewed in what I’ve always called, “Quack Nostrums,” – things that are SUPPOSED to work, but actually don’t, for whatever problem you have. This time I had my first ever CORN on my foot. It really hurt, and since I’m trying to go to the gym every day and walk a mile, it was distracting, to say the least. I went to the pharmacy to try to get a patch after doing a bit of research. He didn’t have a patch, but he had a bottle of “ConCon” which is a liquid containing sallicylic acid and liquefied phenol (whatever that is). You’re supposed to paint it on the corn twice a day, filing the area down every once in a while. I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now, and the CORN IS GONE! The stuff actually worked! Hooray!!!!! So – the next time you come across “ConCon” with the directions in Thai, get it! 😂
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Here are my latest painted sketches –
This was a pot with plant I saw in the hospital. This drawing doesn’t do it justice, but it’s the best I can do right now.
This is my bear I brought with me from the States. He is articulated, so I can move his head, arms and legs. He is really soft and cuddly and comforting. He listens and doesn’t judge. 🙂
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I made it to the gym today for the first time since I got the sore throat. My body wasn’t enthusiastic, but I just laid my hands on the handlbars of the treadmill and walked it out. Tomorrow I’m hoping to be a bit stronger.
I had a really good day today. It was a busy one, so I’m just now sitting down to write blog posts.
I opted out on the gym this morning, needing more sleep, but I’m hoping I can get there tomorrow. I hate to miss it, but I think I’m over the sore throat now. I had my massage, which was wonderful, as usual. Brian and I spent time at my place and then went over to the cafe while my housekeeper made my little condo spotless.
The cafe felt like an international hub this afternoon! The man from India showed up as I was getting my stuff settled, saying that he and his group were leaving and vacating my “spot.” He actually helped me move! I met his very nice wife, who had been visiting him, and another man. The man I met had shown her the couple of photos he took of my artwork and she was really nice about it. They had to leave to catch a plane out, so the visit was very short, but really, really, great.
Then, later, a man who introduced himself saying he was from China, asked if he could video me drawing! He did that, thanked me profusely and said he really liked the drawing I was working on (I finished it and will post it here in a second.). Anyway, I felt special.
Finally, a lady came and complimented my artwork, introducing herself as “Heidi.” She didn’t have time to visit, but apparently she lives close around. She said she would come back very soon, hoping to have time to visit and see more of my stuff. I think she was either a tourist or an expat from the U.S., but I could be wrong. I hope I can find out. She was very nice.
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This is the painting the Chinese man liked.
This is the bird that sounds (to us) like he’s saying, “Fur REAL!”
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Tomorrow we will visit Harvey at the nursing home and I’ll take the picture of Calvin & Hobbes for his Happy Wall. I’m really hoping that he is feeling better and more comfortable than when we saw him last. There is a new owner of the nursing home with changes happening, so I’m hoping he will be there so we can talk with him about what to expect.
Today we’re having a quiet day after over a week of dealing with my husband’s unexpected stay at the hospital. We are glad he’s back at the nursing home and hope that when we visit him again Saturday, he is feeling much better. I will be taking this for his Happy Wall –
This is an image of one of the mailbox decorations he and I cut out of sheet metal. I’m hoping he’ll remember that, or be comforted by the hug. We were talking about my needing home oxygen after dying twice at the hospital. He had no memory of that, and I’m not sure he was following the conversation. Since he fell asleep before we left, I’m hoping that the next few days will bring him rest, relief, and healing from the infection he had.
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I got a sore throat from “somewhere” over the past several days. Brian and I were talking about the fact that I seemed to get the last one after being at the hospital when Harvey was there for pneumonia…. I drank extra Vitamin C powder in orange juice twice, trying to head this off at the pass. My throat is still sore. This isn’t a miracle cure or anything, but I figure it can’t hurt…😷
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Good Housekeeping
Today is the day I change the sheets on my bed, get out fresh towels, gather trash, and generally straighten so that my housekeeper can work her magic tomorrow. I will also get cash so I pay pay her, plus my massage therapist tomorrow.
This morning my toilet wouldn’t flush. It was the middle of the night and I was up taking care of business, and was wide awake by the time I checked out other water-related things in my place. I found out from Brian that water pressure was very low building-wide and that the maintenance people would get to it soon. It was less than an hour before everything was back to normal! I’m very grateful to live in a place where things are fixed quickly and well.
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Trying to get my washed undies dry yesterday was a bit of a challenge. I washed things and hung them on my drying rack on the balcony as usual. It started to rain, so I moved the whole rack inside, putting a sheet under it to catch any drips. The sun was shining when we got back from visiting my husband, so I moved the rack back outside, only to be caught just a short while later…. I’m down to one pair of gym socks and one group of underwear today that are on the rack, hopefully getting dry before I head to the cafe.
Harvey got moved back to the nursing home last night. We went to see him today. He is receiving vibration treatments to bring up the phlegm, suction to remove as much as possible, antibiotics, and oxygen. He was uncomfortable with unproductive coughing, but hopefully that will ease more every day as they remove the congestion. He was pretty much unresponsive, exhausted by the stay in the hospital and his condition, and was asleep when we left. He did know we came and squeezed our hands a bit.
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The rest of the day has been good. I just came home from the cafe, where I finished three paintings –
I love the way small apartment houses sometimes have three different colors under one roof.
I had a stuffed ‘angel’ with a frog’s ceramic head when we lived in AR. It was one of the many things I had to leave when we moved. I missed her, so this time I painted a male fairy god frog to watch over me.
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It rained several times today, but the sun is shining now. Roller coaster weather – challenging to deal with, but I’m learning.
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We got the paperwork from the hospital for Harvey’s stay. We’ll copy everything, write a cover letter, include proof of payment, and hope they will cover this and reimburse us.
No update yet on Harvey’s progress. Brian and I will visit him wherever he is today, hoping he has gotten some relief from his symptoms and is ready to go back to the nursing home.
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I’m working on two sketches now – one is of an ‘apartment building’ showing the way a person will build one building for 6 apartments, painting each section of the building different colors under the one roof. I love these.
The second sketch is of a mother elephant caressing her baby with her trunk.
It occurred to me that you might be interested in seeing my art alcove. I now do the ‘base painting’ for my sketches here, laying down the colors, leaving details for later. –
It’s a sunny spot in the mornings – and actually gets TOO sunny sometimes, even with the shade pulled, so sometimes I have to move my watercolors to my dining table. I love this spot, though, devoted to seeing what I can do creatively.
It’s a happy spot, with plenty of room for my water and watercolor sets.
I have the base painting done on the two sketches I’m working on. I’ll take my sketchbook to the cafe this afternoon to refine things, add details, etc. where the atmosphere is so comfortable. I drink my iced latte, can look out of whatever window I’m near, and sometimes people stop and talk. There is enough background noise that I can concentrate on what I’m doing, undistracted by thoughts of what else I might be doing.
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Today is Tuesday, so this afternoon I’ll also do my exercises with my water bottles. I got snafued on my yoga stretches yesterday, so I’ll try to work in a session of those, as well.
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I hope you’re able to stay cool wherever you are. Thunderstorms are predicted mid afternoon here – while I’m at the cafe. I’ll keep an eye on the skies to try to get home before it starts, or wait it out and come back after.
“No news is good news.” I really think the hospital has done what it can do. I’m hopeful we’ll find out they have changed some dosages on some meds to make him feel better. He’s been on the antibiotics now for several days and is rehydrated. We are hopeful that Khun Pim (Harvey’s nursing home nurse) will contact Brian saying Harvey is being released to return to the nursing home today. Time will tell.
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“Elephant Toes”
My drawing of the wonderful quilt by Cristina Arcengui Bono – womensartbluesky.bsky.social
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I’m about to finish my 3rd sketchbook. Another day or so and it will be full. Thankfully, I have a new one ready to start. I’m going through the full ones, pulling out (1) my favorite drawings of designs by someone else, (2) Thai street scenes, (3) Thai religious icons, (4) Thai ‘flora and fauna’, and (5) my original drawings.
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The sun is shining right now, so I have a pretty full load of laundry out drying on the balcony. Hopefully, I can get everything dry and back inside before any rain is due.
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Puzzle
I’m making a teeny, tiny bit of progress on my jigsaw puzzle. This is one of the most challenging ones I’ve tried.
Maje Baker via Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack
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No news on Harvey this morning. We’re hoping to hear from Khun Pim, his nursing home nurse who is with him, that he has been moved to a private room. We will try to have a regular day.
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I’ve been to the gym and shared breakfast with Brian. I will practice my guitar, write posts for the blog, finish base painting some sketches so I can work on the details at the cafe, and do water bottle exercises. 🎸👩💻🎨💪🏻
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I’m starting a new book by I. L. Williams today called, “The Way Home.” I can’t say enough about her writing. I’m looking forward to diving in.
We spent about half the day at the hospital. Harvey’s fever is gone and the antibiotic seems to be working to fight the infection. The doctor wants to do more to get rid of more of the ‘stuff’ in his lungs, and we don’t know the results of the A1C yet. They were going to do the procedure today and maybe move him out of ICU and into a private room tonight.
The one thing Harvey said that made sense was that he ‘thought he was going to die this time.” That tore my guts out. He was calm, though he said his right arm felt like it had been ‘chewed.’ It LOOKED a little like that, too, with all the bruising…
We’re taking one day at a time, either going to the hospital ICU, a new private room, or maybe they will let him go back to the nursing home.
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These are the two latest painted sketches. The first shows that the Thai people not only work to preserve trees, they actively build AROUND them, as it shows in my imaginary cafe, though I have seen shops and cafes built around gnarled trees. I think it’s great.
The second shows a gazebo featuring an elephant dressed in gold. I took quite a few liberties with this one, wanting to get the FEELING of the place and the honor shown the elephant, rather than the actual dimensions of the gazebo. The actual one had the elephant looking smaller up on a block of cement so you looked up at him, and there were two elephants side by side, rather than only one. The gazebo was very tall and spacious – quite a sight to behold.
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My time at the cafe is a lifesaver for my sanity and peace of mind. It’s very calming to go to such a welcoming, comfortable place where I can sit and drink an iced latte and draw to my heart’s content.
Yesterday I had a nice thing happen. A man from India stopped and said it was a ‘beautiful sight’ to see someone sitting and drawing. We had a chat and I showed him some of my stuff. He is here in Thailand with his wife. He makes jewelry. It was interesting to visit with him.
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It’s almost time for dinner, so I can’t promise to write more today, but I’ll try.
Hospital Update – Harvey was awake and watching TV this morning in ICU. Pim, his nurse from the nursing home, said tests would be run today. The hospital wants to keep him another day. They will keep him busy with tests. Other than that, he should sleep while the antibiotics do their work, so we will plan to go see him wherever he is tomorrow.
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I had a really nice massage this morning and Brian and I are hanging out at my place until we move to the cafe to get out of the housekeeper’s way.
This bird is called the Greater Coucal. I have never seen a bird with the beautiful chestnut colored wings and back. In certain light his tail looks green, and you can see his red eyes here. He makes a whoop-whoop-whoop sound. Today, when I was changing from my massage clothes to my rest-of-the-day clothes, one of these was in the tree outside my bedroom window! Brian tried to get a picture, but it flew off before he could.
I also had a teeny, tiny gecko helping me get my laundry out on my drying rack on my balcony this morning. He is smaller around through the body than the last one I had, but longer and skinny and blazingly fast. I only saw the last one once. I don’t know if I’ll see this one again or not.
We spent almost the entire day at the hospital today. Harvey developed a fever and was having trouble breathing with congestion in his lungs, so they took him to the hospital by ambulance. Brian and I met Harvey and his nurse there.
They have him on antibiotics now and will probably suction his lungs today. They are running more tests and are keeping him overnight. He was really spaced out and coughing a lot. This developed very quickly, so we’re not sure what is going on. To say today was stressful is an understatement.
We made sure he was in a room in the ICU after he was released from the triage ER, and that his nurse was comfortable. We talked to the doctor.
We will go back to the hospital in the morning to see what is happening. Hopefully, the antibiotics and the suction will have broken the fever and have him feeling more comfortable and coughing much less.
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I collapsed when I got back home and slept for about 45 minutes. Then I went to the cafe to get a latte and destress.
These are my latest
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Brian and I will share dinner very soon and then I will probably go to bed earlier than usual to see if I can get enough rest to hit the gym in the morning and see what the day holds. Not sure whether I will be able to have my massage or not, but we’ll vacate so the housekeeper can do her magic.
I’ve had a good morning. We went to the gym and shared breakfast as usual. Then I did something I’ve never done before – I didn’t sleep well last night, having to take a Tylenol-type pill in the middle of the night, so I was tired and sleepy. When I got back to my place, I turned off the air filters, opened all the windows, turned on the fan, and took a nap.
I felt MUCH better when I woke up, more ready to face the day. I closed everything up again, turned on the a/c and did a good, long session of yoga stretches.
And finally, I gave myself the treat of rereading a story by I.L. Williams about a girl and her dog. It got me emotionally the same way it did the first time. I.L. Williams is quite a storyteller. She draws you in immediately, makes you care.
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These are the latest painted sketches.
I’m going to add the details to some Christmas cards I started yesterday and then choose what to tackle next on drawings. I have several wonderful or challenging choices to try. I’ll spend part of the afternoon at the cafe, enjoying a latte and sketching.
I really can’t believe this is a QUILT. I am completely overwhelmed and just love it. I’m going to save the image and see if I can draw it.
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These are my two new sketches.
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Brian and I took a really nice walk this morning. We left my laundry, and then we were free to roam. We went to visit my huge koi fish. They happened to be feeding them automatically while we were there. All of a sudden soft pellet-looking things were floating on the surface. The fish didn’t have a frenzy or anything because apparently they are well enough fed that they are interested, but not frantic. There was a steady swimming around by all parties, each scooping up a couple of pellets. I swear they were ‘chewing.’ I KNOW fish don’t have teeth and don’t need to, but the motion they made with their mouths and jaws imitated the action….🐠
We also saw a huge gazebo with a double elephant statue in the center. It was really impressive. I took some photos and hope to be able to draw it well enough to share soon. 🐘
The last thing I took pics of was a humongous snail sitting on a step. He was beautiful. 🐌
The frogs were quiet, or have all left as of today. It was the first time they have been quiet in several weeks. I guess the mating season is over. 🐸
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I have the base painting done on one sketch and one Christmas card. I’ll take these to the cafe this afternoon to add the details, and then get started on something else fun. 🎨
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Today is yoga stretches day, so I’ll do that when I get back from the cafe, before dinner. I did pretty well on the treadmill this morning, keeping up my speed and adding some incline. 🚶♀️🧘
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The weather forecast is for ‘heavy rain warning’ for the foreseeable future, with the LOWEST chance of rain percentage 70%. It is quite cloudy right now. I’m trying to be like the Thai people, take my umbrella and rain suit and continue on with whatever I wanted to do – unless the rain is really pouring on us right then – and then we just wait it out. ☔️
Yesterday when Brian and I were on our way to the gym I heard a bird song that somehow reminded me of a kookaburra. And THAT reminded me of when I was a Bluebird (a baby Camp Fire Girl) and we sang two ’rounds’ that I remember and can hear them now.
Total Voice Studio
A ’round’ in music is “a type of vocal composition where two or more singers sing the exact same melody, but start at staggered times. Because the singers overlap, their different parts harmonize to create a continuous loop of beautiful music.”
“Le Carillon de Vendôme”
Orléans, Beaugency,
Notre-Dame de Cléry,
Vendôme, Vendôme !
This is the first one I remember. When we sang, it sounded like bells were ringing. The first group would start the song. The second group started right after “Orle’ans”. The sound we made, even though we weren’t great singers, was breathtaking.
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Kookabyrra
Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree, Merry merry king of the bush is he. Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra, Gay your life must be!
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree Eating all the gumdrops he can see Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra Leave some there for me.
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, Counting all the monkeys he can see Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra, That’s no monkey, that’s me.
This is the second one, and was mainly just fun. The first group would sing the first line, and the second one would start after that. I can remember singing those, delight on our faces, the whole time we were members of the Blue Birds. I don’t hear anyone singing rounds anymore. I miss them.
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This is my latest sketch. I took photos of the lizard at the top and then going up the tree while I was sitting at the window in the cafe. One of the servers told me they could fly. I looked it up and found that they can glide up to 60 feet to get away from a predator. I didn’t actually see the ‘wings’ on this one, but I drew the one I found on the net. I think it’s amazing how fast they move without having to fly, and that their tails are at least twice as long as their bodies…
I have two sketches base painted that I’ll take to the cafe this afternoon. I want to try to draw the axolotl that I found on the net soon. I also have an idea rattling around in my head with a ‘keep moving’ theme I was to start on.
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Puzzle
I’m not making much progress at all with my jigsaw puzzle of the chameleon. The border is done, and I have a small group of pieces that is part of the branch, but that’s it. This one will definitely take a while. Brian is thrilled. 😁
Shout out to my friend Sheila Murrey for taking this photo of the axolotls in the store where her daughter works for me. I simply LOVE these. If you look very carefully, you can see the gray one pretty easily. You might have to look a bit longer to see the white one who is trying to hide. Thank you, Sheila!!! ♥️
“The axolotl is a species of mole salamander. It is neotenic, reaching sexual maturity without undergoing metamorphosis, and the adults remain fully aquatic with obvious external gills.”
I found this pic on the net and will try to draw it.
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I finished the first few Christmas cards yesterday.
Each card will be different, and different from anything I did last year. I’ll make a few at a time, finding designs I like, figuring out which ones might be good for each person.
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We are just back from visiting my husband at the nursing home. He was more alert today, but was delusional most of the time, talking about plotting to take over a place we visited years ago and ridding it of all the bad stuff. Brian teased him about being a “master mind of evil,” and he almost smiled with his eyes. He has the idea now that he wants to rearrange his Happy Wall and thinks I’m the current Grandma Moses and that we can sell all my drawings for a fortune – talk about delusional! Anyway, that was a nice thing to say. He broke my heart right before we left. He motioned that he wanted me to come back to his bedside, and he said, “Get me out of here.”
Brian and I talked about it. Harvey says all is good there. He is not hurting. The people are treating him well. So what is he actually meaning when he says this –
We really think he is actually saying, “Do something to make all this go away. Take away the bad stuff that has happened and make it go back the way it was when I was healthier, able to take care of myself, think straight, get out of bed and do the things I used to do.”
He doesn’t realize it now takes three trained people to get him out of the bed and into a wheelchair. That he cannot eat enough food by himself without the nasal tube to survive. Can’t understand where he is, what is happening, what year it is, who we are much of the time, and more. Trying to explain any of this over and over again is fruitless.
We just hold his hands, hug him and kiss him. bring him pictures for his wall from time to time, bring him pineapple pies and grape drink (plus a probiotic, if he’ll drink it), and talk to him about whatever is on his mind while we’re there.
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I feel good because I’m wearing a jeans vest that I’ ve had for 100 years or so that I’ve always worn open (because I couldn’t even THINK of actually trying to button the buttons. Today I put it on, buttoned the buttons, and actually find it ROOMY. The best part of my weight loss is that I’m feeling so much better, but a nice sidebar is when I can FEEL a difference from two years ago to now. 🥳
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I forgot to tell you yesterday that my neighbors and I went toward the elevator at the same time yesterday morning as I was going up to join Brian for breakfast. I asked them if they had a minute and gave the little boy the card I made showing the robot in the tree swing. He really seemed to like it. The parents grabbed a whole sack of his artwork. I took a minute to look and he’s really good. I apologized that I had to leave, but that I would love to take more time and really enjoy looking at his work at another time. Hopefully, they will invite me.
This was taken last year about this time in my first rainy season. Sometimes umbrellas aren’t enough and a ‘rain suit’ sold by the locals is a great solution. It is a light trash bag with sleeves and a hoodie. I carry it in my carrier, along with my umbrella, in my carrier all the time, since you usually don’t get much warning that it’s going to rain, how hard, how long, etc. Mine is actually purple, though it looks pink in this photo. It’s an invaluable clever product.
This morning our rain suits got a good workout. It’s down to a ‘regular rain’ now, rather than a blowing harder rain. We’ve been to the gym, had breakfast, I’ve had a really nice massage, and we’re spending time at my place before we go to the cafe to get out of my housekeeper’s way. (She’s at Brian’s place now.)
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An old lady’s hand (mine).
A rooster
Another in the Thai Scene series
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I’ve put my guitar in its case and propped it up in a corner where it will stay until after dinner. I’m finally making a bit of progress with the C progression of chords on my guitar. I’m remember the order of the chords and I remember where my fingers go without checking my diagrams, but I’m still really slow. I move from one chord to the next, trying to get a clean sound. I can usually try the round of 4 chords three times before my fingertips throw a fit. Then I put the guitar down, go do something else, and then pick it up and try again later.
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I’m finding lots of things I want to share with you. I’m trying to make some kind of a plan on how to group the different things. It’s wonderful to know that there are so many great things out there that we can enjoy.
I don’t just mean the cliche’ here. I am trying to shed worry about things I can’t do anything about anyway. I am working on NOT imagining possible scenarios that MIGHT – but almost NEVER – happen. I’m concentrating on seeing the good wherever it might be and enjoying every moment of it.
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I’m still working on two sketches today – one of an old woman’s hand (mine) and a church-steeple-spire building I took a picture of recently. If I can finish them today, I’ll share them tomorrow.
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Yesterday afternoon there was a wreck in the street that runs in front of my building. I heard the sound and ran to the window to see a sedan type vehicle and a pink motor scooter with a girl on the ground. I couldn’t tell what had happened. The girl was able to get up and there was no blood. They both took pictures and moved their vehicles to the side of the road, and got on their phones. They were there a LONG time waiting for the police to come. A lady came to sit with the girl, and the two of them eventually went away in an ambulance. (I didn’t see what happened to her scooter.) The man was still waiting (I guess for insurance or possible tow truck) to come. I’m amazed that this doesn’t happen more often. This is the only wreck I have seen the aftermath of in the over a year since I’ve been here.
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I’m trying again on getting my wash from yesterday dry, plus added to it this morning. It’s cloudy, with rain forecast, but hopefully I can get things done today.
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Today is the day I get ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow. (I will NEVER take this for granted. I have always done my own cleaning, but now am definitely getting too old in the tooth to get down on my hands and knees and scrub anymore.) I will change the sheets on my bed, put out fresh towels everywhere, gather and empty the trash, general straightening, otherwise.
I love the luxury of being able to sing and dance and carry on with no one watching now that I have my own place alone. I’m too busy having fun to judge myself…
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I told my friend Sheila that I’m going to try doing a squat today. She has been having good success with hangs and squats – each working on her back – upper and lower – plus she is losing inches! I’m so impressed at her efforts. I did tell her that if she doesn’t hear anything more from me, it may be because I’m still on the floor after the squat…
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We’re having a rainy morning, but I’m hoping it’ll clear up soon. I went ahead and put my laundry out on the drying rack on the balcony, hoping that any rain will just be sprinkles and will fall pretty straight down, rather than being blown around. One has to have hope on some things –
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I’m going to do some base painting this morning in hopes of spending some time at the cafe this afternoon. Oddly enough, I’m going to start finding ideas for Christmas cards and start making a few at a time. I went over the list of people I gave cards to last year and have added to it for this year. I make all different cards – each one different – and my list already shows 35 at this point, so it takes a good amount of time. I love to make them, feeling joy in the sketching and then the painting, so I want to get started.
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Today is Wednesday, so I’ll do yoga stretches today. I’m doing leg lifts as a part of that, and – as I mentioned – try the squat. I’m routinely coming down the stairs from Brian’s place to mine. I have on my mental list to try to go up at least one flight and see how it goes. (I can take the elevator the rest of the way.)
We went to visit Harvey this morning. He has been largely unresponsive the last several times we have visited. He says, “Hi,” or kisses my hand, but that’s basically it. He is calm and content, comfortable, and just wants to look out the window or watch the TV. He lives in his own little world. We are grateful that the quality of his life seems to satisfy him.
The nursing home is now under new ownership. We met the doctor and his assistant today. It looks like we are all in good hands, and that we may be partners in Harvey’s care, with us all on the same page. That is comforting.
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These are my latest painted sketches.
I just came home from the cafe. I got my favorite spot and sat happily sketching and making notes this afternoon.
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I finally got the border for the chameleon puzzle finished. I may die of old age before finishing this one. There are few clues as to what you’re working on or even what colors you’re working with. This will be a challenge, and the chamelon is right in the middle…
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I’m practicing the Key of C chord progression on my guitar – C – G – Am – F. These are some basic chords that are used in lots of popular songs. Of course, I’m vastly simplifying things, but it’s a start.
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I saw a church steeple sticking up out of the ‘noise’ of the city and took a picture of it. I’m going to see if I can draw at least part of it. I also took pictures of two different lizards lately, one that had a blue head, and the other that blended right in with the rocks. The server at the cafe told me that some of the lizards can fly! I looked it up and they can kind of GLIDE down, some up to 60 or so feet (1) to get away from a predator! I’m going to try to draw them, as well. I started a sketch of an old woman’s hands (mine). I don’t know if I can get it to come out at all well. We’ll see. I’ve also started a rooster.
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Today is Tuesday. That means water bottle exercises. I’ll do those as soon as I finish my blog posts for the day.
I rode down in the elevator with a tall slim lady who was ‘mature’ but not as old as I am – almost no one is. She immediately asked where I was going. I told her I was going to the cafe to do some sketching and have a latte.
She then told me how very lucky I am to have my son. Apparently, she knows about our situation and has watched how carefully he holds my hand when we’re leaving the building, etc. I got the feeling that she lives alone and doesn’t have close family around. She was very nice, and we agreed that Brian was a wonderful man, taking great care of his family – a very rare thing nowadays.
I don’t know if I’ll see her again or get to know her, but it brought home again how very lucky I am to be living here now.
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The glass print of my “Cats on the Beach” jigsaw puzzle arrived yesterday and has taken its place on my ‘statement shelf’ in my living area. I really love having these on my shelves. I’ve never seen anything else like this display and I enjoy having something unique that carries hours of ‘work.🤣’ 😂🧩
My new puzzle of the chameleon is going to be a challenge. I’m still working to put together the border. It will keep me busy for a long time.
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My morning has been nice, with the gym, breakfast, taking my laundry, writing one blog post so far, base painting a giraffe, and more. I’ll practice my guitar in between posts today, do my yoga stretching, try to get at least one more sketch base painted before I go to the cafe this afternoon.
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I found a beautiful, beautiful fireworks display of the actual one put on in D.C., and so enjoyed quite an impressive show, vicariously celebrating the 4th.
When I died twice the night of February 11, 2025, the good people who installed a pacemaker also seem to have installed a different OUTLOOK on life.
I got a booster when our son came and helped us, convincing us to move to Thailand and retire where we could be close to him. My husband’s stroke 2 weeks after we arrived was the final piece to my personal life’s puzzle and I am forever changed.
I.L. Williams’ quote above says it all. What USED to be unremarkable is now everything, seen through a grateful new lens.
I wake up grateful to wake up – methodically rising at 4:30 to get ready for our daily session at the gym. My ‘gym buddy’ encourages me to show up and do what will improve my balance that was compromised in my hospital stay, plus my stamina. My determination to start each day with some discipline and routine sets the tone for the rest of my day.
This morning was nice, with the pollution index app showing ‘good’ quality air, so I turned off my air filters and opened my windows to enjoy the light and air free flowing into my condo (MY first place by myself EVER.) My son has helped me furnish it with sturdy pieces for my computer area, dining area, TV stand, puzzle table, bedroom stuff, and good chairs.
The problems my condo had (leaky windows, a shower head that trickled and leaked, a door that stuck – causing me problems getting in and out for a while, among others) have been fixed now. There are remaining issues, but they can wait forever if need be. I LOVE my place!
My husband is in a good, well run and CARING nursing home. His health issues are grim, but he is calm and comfortable, glad when my son and I visit. I will be forever grateful regarding the timing of our move here -crucial to all the rest. We would have been in dire straits if Harvey’s issues had happened at our old home in the States.
My health is improving since I finally got the rest of the lard I had been caring around for years OFF. I’ve lost a total of about 95 pounds and about 90 some inches now, and am at a good weight for my height (though I’m shrinking). I am concentrating on eating good food with monitored portions and exercising twice a day (yoga stretches, water bottle exercises, and going down the stairs – and up a little now – plus taking some good supplements and drinking lots more water.
I have the freedom to arrange most of my days (when we don’t have appointments or are going to visit my husband) to my liking, cramming each one with as many fun things as I have time and energy to do. That freedom increases the calm I feel. I don’t feel rushed. I can spend as much or as little time on things as I would like. How wonderful is that!!
A short list of my ‘joy’ creators are – writing posts for this blog as first and foremost. I have met many beautiful people through it and answering comments is a high point of my day. I spend a lot of time researching to find things I think are wonderful to share. It is a total joy. Trying to teach myself to draw and then painting the sketches brings me concentration, challenge, and a sense of purpose. I love choosing things to sketch, or making them up, doing the best I can at the time to bring them to paper, doing the base painting at home and then taking my supplies to the cafe to add the details and start new sketches while enjoying a latte. Sometimes I get my favorite spot by the front window, but it’s a joy wherever I’m sitting. Working on a jigsaw puzzle and leaving it out so I can work on it whenever the mood strikes. Practicing trying to relearn and play a used guitar and sing with it eventually is my newest challenge. I used to do this to help make money for my college. Now that’s all gone (it’s been at LEAST 50 years) but I’m enjoying the trying. Reading good books, listening to music, sharing meals with my son.
New things-listening to birds sing on a regular basis. Finding a cute little gecko sharing my condo with me. Taking a picture of a squirrel in a tree outside my window. Taking pictures of two different lizards that live somewhere around the cafe. Listening to the gazillion frogs that are singing to us as we go to the gym. Gathering fallen flowers and leaves that I’ve never seen before. The joy of watching the Thai people and the tourists walk past the cafe going about their business. Discovering how many hard working Thai people make their living in three-wheeled carts filled to the gills with products or services performed right in the street. Seeing the beautiful women and their sense of style. Goggling at the traffic that continues to amaze me.
New challenges – trying to learn more Thai phrases and customs. Learning about the money and making simple transactions. Taking short walks in my neighborhood – going around the block so I don’t have to cross the street – which is a master course in not getting hit or causing anyone problems.
New joys – meeting more and more Thai people who have to be some of the kindest people on the planet.
These “little” things encompass my life now and cause the happiness to simply bubble up inside me and spill over. I’m so grateful for a 2nd chance at life to fully live each day, totally aware of how lucky I am, how much I have now, and a purpose to enjoy every moment.
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“Life is just a lot of everyday adventures.” ― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn
I hope that you and your family are enjoying the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, and that you’re full of food, feeling fabulous and full, and have enjoyed a wonderful display of fireworks.
I will see if I can find coverage of some fireworks later today.
Yesterday when we visited my husband, I reminded Harvey about the holiday where he spent the whole evening setting off fireworks because the lights of the fireworks were basically the only thing my dad was still able to see, due to his severe cataracts. My dad cried he was so happy. If I hadn’t fallen in love with Harvey already, I would have that night. When I talked to him about it, he didn’t remember, but then said, “Well, I always loved to blow stuff up.”
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Pinterest
I just finished practicing my guitar. My fingertips are yelling at me. I found some information on chord progressions, so I made notes and have started practicing the first basic one. I’m hoping to train my head, ears, and fingers to “hear” the progressions, stretching my fingers to form the chords in the progression, and remember them as a kind of unit while I hum along with them.
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I finished sketching a base painting some thank you cards this morning. I’ll take them to the cafe in a while and add the details to finish them. I gave one to Harvey’s nurse yesterday, and she was giggling as she went down the hall.
I saw my neighbors yesterday – a man and his son. The boy was taking a robot head he fashioned out of cardboard and painted for school. I told him I really liked it and he simply lit up the elevator with his smile. I decided to make a card for him showing a robot swinging in a tree swing to give him the next time I see them.
